Theory Of Evolution And Islamic Sharia: Pakistan Clerics Force Zoology Teacher To Denounce Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution
By
Mohammad Ashfaq
October 22,
2023
Representative
image
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Clerics in
Bannu district have forced a senior zoology teacher of the Government Postgraduate
Degree College to denounce English naturalist Charles Darwin’s theory of
biological evolution and mixed-gender gatherings, and declare that women are
inferior to men.
Assistant
Professor Sher Ali gave a three-page undertaking to the deputy commissioner’s
office that “all scientific and rational ideas, which were in contradiction to
Islamic Sharia, including Darwin’s theory of evolution, are falsehood.”
He also
declared that he believed in women’s inferiority to men “in terms of wisdom as
stipulated by the Sharia and declared that unnecessary mingling of women with
men is not allowed.”
The senior
teacher also renounced his speeches in seminars, lectures, and social media
posts for being “contrary to the teachings of Islam” and said if something untoward
happened to him, the clerics of Domel area of Bannu district would bear no
responsibility for it.
Sher Ali
also resents mixed-gender gatherings, calls women inferior to men
Mr Ali, who
holds MSc degree in zoology from the University of Peshawar and MPhil’s in
human genetics from the Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, reportedly addressed
a seminar on Oct 5 in Domel area about women’s rights in light of the
Constitution and the law.
His remarks
didn’t sit well with local clerics, who convened a meeting and accused him of
“spreading debauchery and speaking against Islam and local culture,” and
demanded strict action against him by authorities.
As the
issue caused an outcry on social media, the assistant professor took to
Facebook, where he has over 20,000 followers, to “clarify” his position on
Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Holding a
biology textbook of the intermediate course published by the KP Textbook Board,
he insisted that he was teaching biological evolution as part of the course.
“Chapter 24
of the biology textbook discusses Darwin’s theory of biological evolution and
if someone has problems with this topic, then they should approach the
government for the removal of the chapter from the course,” he said.
Mr Ali also
said if he didn’t teach the topic, the students would question his teaching
ability.
He added
that he always taught Darwin’s theory of evolution after seeking the consent of
his students.
“I always
ask them [students] whether they’re interested in studying this chapter, and if
they say yes, only then I proceed,” he said.
After the
district administration intervened, clerics and the professor agreed to resolve
the issue. Mr Ali submitted an undertaking to the office of Bannu deputy
commissioner renouncing his thoughts on Darwin’s theory.
A Facebook
video showed him reading 11 points of the undertaking, which was signed by both
the clerics as well as the professor.
When
contacted, the professor refused to discuss the issue with this correspondent.
A senior
district administration official told Dawn that the issue had been discussed on
social media for two weeks prompting the administration to bring both sides to
the table to resolve it.
He said
Prof Sher Ali told clerics in the meeting that social media posts regarding
purdah (veil) or women’s rights didn’t belong to him and that they’re
“digitally altered.”
The
official said both sides agreed to resolve the issue amicably.
Source: Bannu
Clerics Force Zoology Teacher To Denounce Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-science/evolution-islamic-sharia-clerics-darwin/d/130953
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